TACF Articles

One problem with training a shih tzu is that they will always beg for food while you are eating. To solve this problem simply sit them in their own area, away from the table, until you are finished eating. This will take several attempts, but eventually your shih tzu will take the hint and do it on their own. Remember to reward your shih tzu by giving them a treat afterward or their own delicious meal.

Shih Tzu dogs are highly intelligent creatures and many pet owners do not give them enough credit when it comes to the way they can read and understand our body language. Some people have no idea that the body language that we display has a major impact on how well a Shih Tzu dog will listen to us and obey our commands. Using the correct form of body language can also quickly stop your Shih Tzu dog from displaying an improper behavior.

As with any animal, sometimes our shih tzu’s actions will upset us. Some pet owners chase their animals around the house yelling and screaming. You should not do this under any circumstance. Your shih tzu will only think you a playing with them and will continue to run.

When you give your Shih Tzu dog a command, display a very bold and upright body position. Stand up, chest forward, and head back. Your Shih Tzu dog will have more respect and a slight bit of intimidation, which can help with training him or her.

If your Shih Tzu dog is extremely excited then do not add to the problem by getting feisty. Instead, move slowly and talk in a soothing tone of voice. Display the same behavior you wish them to use. Doing so will calm them down and it will be much easier to change their behavior.

Here is a great retrieval training tip: get some snacks together and sprinkle them on the floor a few feet away from your shih tzu. Do not let them run up and grab them right away. Make the shih tzu wait a minute or so in a seated position and when you are ready give the command “pickup” and allow your dog to eat.

Each time your Shih Tzu dog grabs a piece of food, drop another piece behind you and then point while giving the “pickup” command. As you can probably guess, your Shih Tzu dog is going to associate the command you are giving him of “pickup” with the notion to look for something to put in his mouth. This part of training does not take long at all, especially if you are using tasty treats and also training your Shih Tzu dog when he or she is hungry, as this helps to increase their motivation.

On another not if you ever have to leave the puppy alone, don’t let the dog roam your home until he’s a year old. He’s not mature enough for that responsibility. Instead putting him in a confined area or a room with a child safety gate is the best.